How does copyright law affect you?

Answer 1

Copyright law affects what I can do with creative works I encounter. I went to a concert last night, and the law prevented me from recording it and posting it to YouTube. I read an interesting blog post, and I emailed a link to someone instead of copying and pasting the content itself. I sent just someone to the rightsholder of some rare materials I am in possession of, to get permission to have a copy made.

On the other hand, if I were the creator of those works, copyright would affect me differently. If I were the band playing that concert, I would be able to license my recordings. If I were the blogger, I could authorize others to use my words, or not. If I were the rightsholder of the materials, I could charge a fee to allow a copy to be made.

Answer 2

Eventually, everyone. At first, it reduces the earnings of the creator. If this continues to the extent that the creator needs to go back to waiting tables, less creation is going to happen, and users get less choice.

Answer 3

All companies are affected by copyright law. YouTube, for instance, had to enact their Content ID system to remove copyrighted content due to companies like Viacom complaining that their rights were not being represented on the website.

Answer 4

Everybody who produces an 'artistic' product. This can br writings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, stage plays, etc. Every time you take a photograph you have created a copyright item.

Answer 5

In the short term, the rightsholder is hurt, because his or her work has been devalued.

In the long term, consumers are hurt as prices increase and choice decreases.

Answer 6

All signatories to the Berne Convention are affected by copyright law in some way, either as creators of intellectual property, or as users of it.